SleepyBambinos Sleep Consultant

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SleepyBambinos Sleep Consultant

Nina Dougall | Baby & Toddler Sleep Consultant | 1-1 Support | Gentle, Family-Led Approach

20/04/2026

What does a 12 month routine typically look like?

While every child is unique, here’s a glimpse into our usual daily schedule.

We start our day around 6:30 or 7 in the morning, enjoy breakfast together at 7:30.

💤 First nap is around 9:30am in the car on the nursery drop off. This nap is usually around 15/20 mins.

🍎A mid-morning snack at 10am then lunch at 12pm.

💤 Second nap is from 1 to 3 in the afternoon, with a snack at 3:30.

🍽️Dinner is around 5:30pm

🛌 Bedtime at 7pm.

Remember, this routine works well for us right now, but it might look different on some days, and that’s okay! If I have plans later in the day, I might shift the longer nap to the morning and do a quick car nap on the way home.

If you find a routine that fits your family, I always encourage you to stick with it, only make changes if your little one is skipping naps, getting overtired, resisting bedtime, or waking up very early.

✨If you’d like some support with your child’s routine, whatever their age, comment 'routine' below, and I’ll reach out with some tips.

15/04/2026

Does this family's story resonate with you?

If you're interested in making a change, just comment ‘Sleep’ below, and I’ll reach out to see how I can support you and your family.

26/03/2026

Save this Post for Later!

On March 29th, the clocks spring forward, and it’s the easier of the two changes- wahoo!!!

👇🏽Here’s how to navigate it with your little one:

Option 1️⃣:
Do nothing. Keep the usual bedtime and wake-up time. Early risers might wake at 6 am instead of 5 am!
(This is what I will be doing)

Option 2️⃣:
Gradual adjustments. If your baby is sensitive, shift naps, feeds, and bedtime by 15 mins each day starting on Thursday.

Option 3️⃣:
Adjust on Saturday 28th March. Shift the entire day by 30 mins to an hour.

We’re choosing option 1 in our household, then fine-tuning in the days after.

10/03/2026

This can be a real game-changer if your baby regularly drifts off during their bedtime feed… only to wake an hour or two later hungry again.

A split (or double) feed helps you put your baby down knowing they’ve had a really good, full feed — which can support a longer first stretch of sleep.
And yes — this works whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding 🤍

Here’s how I suggest doing it:

1️⃣ Offer the main feed first�Around 40–45 minutes before bed, give your baby their main milk feed. Do this somewhere calm but well-lit — not in a dim bedroom. The goal is to keep them awake and feeding properly rather than nodding off halfway through.

2️⃣ Start your bedtime routine�Bath, pyjamas, cuddles, story — whatever your usual wind-down looks like.

3️⃣ Add a short top-up feed�Just before bed, offer a quick top-up. This isn’t another full feed — just a few minutes (or the remainder of their bottle) to make sure they’re going into bed with a satisfied tummy.

4️⃣ Into bed awake�If they start drifting off during the top-up, gently remove them while still awake, finish your routine and place them into their sleep space. Support them to settle if needed.
✨ Bonus tip: Add a consistent song or short story between feeding and putting them down to help separate milk from sleep.

It won’t fix every sleep challenge overnight — but it does mean those early evening wakes are less likely to be hunger-related, which gives you confidence in how you respond.

You can usually start trying this from around 3–4 months old.

07/03/2026

We are really enjoying the magnetic tiles right now! They're incredibly versatile and inspire a lot of creativity. Plus, they're a wonderful activity to do together with an older child while your younger one is napping.

25/02/2026

If 30-minute naps are leaving you feeling exhausted, second-guessing, and turning to ChatGPT or sleep apps, with nothing improving...

Then DM me or comment “naps” below, and I would be happy to give you some advice or book a free discovery call if you would like to know more about gentle sleep training.

18/02/2026

Do baby groups *always* seem to fall right on your baby’s first nap? 😩

You’re not imagining it — and yes, there is a way to make it work!!

👉🏽Your baby’s first wake window is usually the shortest because sleep pressure is still high from overnight. That actually makes this nap the *easiest* one to adjust around baby groups, swimming lessons or classes.

What I’d suggest 👇🏽
👉🏽Put your baby down a little earlier for their first nap.
👉🏽They’ll likely sleep for one sleep cycle (or less or more)— and that’s absolutely fine.
👉🏽That short nap gives them enough energy to enjoy the group.
👉🏽Then you can aim for a longer nap once you’re home.

One shorter nap won’t ruin the day — sometimes it’s the thing that helps the rest of the day fall into place.

Do baby groups clash with naps for you too? 💬

✨ Any questions about your routine, drop them below and I'll give you some tips 👇🏽

15/02/2026

Handling Sleep Regressions:

1️⃣ Stick to a Consistent Bedtime Routine:
A calming, predictable routine helps signal that it’s time for sleep.

2️⃣ Create an Optimal Sleep Environment:
Make sure their sleep space is dark, quiet, and cool for better rest. Choose whether you want to use white noise - if so, make sure it's continuous.

3️⃣ Stay Consistent with How You Settle Them:
Even if they wake up more often, try to stick with your usual settling method e.g. Rocking, patting, feeding etc

4️⃣ Keep to Their Routine:
Regular sleep and nap times help keep their internal clock on track.

And remember, this is just a phase—it will pass. Sleep regressions often signal a developmental leap, so keep that in mind during the tough times.

10/02/2026

Super simple activity for your baby!

Find a muffin tray, fill it with balls, and add some sensory scaves! Easy peasy! It will give you a few minutes' peace!

For more ideas like this, we love using the play cards. Takes the stress out, making play easy and fun for everyone. If you would like a discount code use ‘bambinos’.

09/02/2026

If you have any other questions, please let me know below and I will answer them for you! 💤

Address

Horsham

Opening Hours

9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.sleepybambinos.co.uk/

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